Low-cost airline AirAsia has officially opened a new international route from Manila to Jakarta.

The maiden flight departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday.

Following the opening of the Manila-Jakarta route, the airline is set to start operating a Manila-Bali route on Jan. 19.

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Veteran pilot Dexter Comendador, CEO of AirAsia Philippines, said in a press release that the new service aimed to bring ASEAN people closer.

“AirAsia is an ASEAN product and we are proud to be part of this region we call home,” he said.

Comendador also shared the company’s plan to open new routes to Thailand this year and to expand the routes to other cities in Southeast Asian countries.

AirAsia Philippines previously launched a Manila-Ho Chi Minh City route in November last year. (kes)